The recent Clinton Global Initiative meeting held in New York has sparked a lot of news across the world, with new commitments being made that — fingers crossed — will continue to help people across our planet. And despite my inability to stop hearing Kodos from the Simpsons pronouncing his name "Clin Ton!" every time I hear the foundation mentioned, there is no doubt that it is doing some good.

The Rainforest Alliance recently also pledged their support to the CGI, and agreed to work with two major players in the paper industry and one in the musical instrument industry.

This support will take the shape of increasing the companies use of wood from responsibly managed forestlands certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The three companies include Domtar, a North American pulp and paper company; Time Inc, one of the largest publishing companies in the world; and Gibson Musical Instruments, Inc., the leaders in musical instruments in the United States.

"As these three major players in the paper and musical instrument industries are demonstrating, large companies are taking sustainability seriously and considering the long-term environmental, social and economic implications of their purchases," said Tensie Whelan, executive director of the Rainforest Alliance, in attendance at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting.

"Buying wood products from FSC-certified forestlands supports responsible forest management, conserves biodiversity and curbs deforestation."

Deforestation

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, deforestation — the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such as arable land, pasture, urban use, logged area, or wasteland — causes 20% of global greenhouse emissions per year.

The FSC works through providing economic incentives to those biodiverse communities that would and could otherwise turn their lands in to grazing for cattle. In turn for these incentives, those areas are left — and encouraged — to grow in to stronger forests.

By using products that have been certified by the FSC, businesses can begin to shape how the rest of the world sees the importance of sustainability, and subsequently provides consumers with the ability to support such initiatives. Businesses will always have to be the front line of change, simply because governments often refuse to be.

Thankfully, ecological sustainability also happens to be good for business, and provides an incentive — sometimes the only one — for companies to get behind such projects as the FSC and CGI.

So while some members of society may often look at Bill Clinton with a sour expression — best summed up by watching the Simpsons — there is without a doubt a lot of good that he is doing. Let us hope that that good continues well in to the future, and continues to reap results such as these.

Rainforest Alliance - Rainforest Alliance, Gibson, Domtar and Time Inc. Commit… via ENN - Rainforest Alliance, Gibson, Domtar and Time Inc. Commit…

Environment News Service - Billions Committed for Environment at Clinton Global Initiative

Rainforest Alliance

Clinton Global Initiative

Photo - Deforestation for agriculture in Benambra, Australia